Why UTVs Aren't Street Legal in Alabama

 

Several weeks ago, a Colbert UTV crash claimed the life of a young man. The accident happened on a public road, and we mentioned to readers to avoid illegal situations for their own safety. Several took exception to this, as "everyone" does it, while one reader mentioned the possibility that UTVs were legal due to a federal ruling.

One of our valued advisors commented that often officers refused to give tickets to UTVs due to the so-called federal protection defense of farm machinery. Are they protected? According to state law, via a 1987 attorney general's opinion by Charles Graddick, UTVs should be considered the same as ATVs and, therefore, illegal on Alabama public roads. 

Now some Muscle Shoals residents have complained to us that ATVs and UTVs disrupt normal traffic flow on their suburban streets and police often turn a blind eye. We suggest taking it up with the city council.

As for the "everyone" does it defense, we've asked this question before and will pose it again: Just which laws do you decide to break and which to keep?